Bryn Terfel

BRYN TERFEL Carols & Christmas Songs 4778768

. . . [the voice] has an astonishing timbre: honeyed, melodious, yet drawing on what seems like a vast, primordial source of power. It's a voice that has made Terfel the first-choice Wotan for any opera house staging Wagner's "Ring" . . .

[Terfel is] treating listeners to a host of holiday favorites with his dark-hued and potent voice . . . The Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera, led by Tecwyn Evans, is vibrant, and the Nidus Children's Choir and other singers are excellent. It's a classic in any language.

There are few voices so suited to the fireside intimacy of the best Christmas music as Terfel's. The Welsh baritone is always winning when he scales his voice down to a hushed half-voice, and the songs that call for that kind of singing come off best here. "O Jesulein zart" (beautifully backed up by a group of Welsh choruses) and the traditional Austrian carol "Still, still, still" are touching lullabies, and benefit from Terfel's affectionately accurate German . . . [Terfel's] wide vibrato and big cuddly-bear presence contrasts with Crosbyżs more recessive, instrumental, straight-toned vocalism, which so memorably expressed that song's loneliness . . .

Record Review /
David Perkins,
Boston Globe / 05. December 2010

The world-famous opera star demonstrates not only the power of his commanding baritone, but also its remarkable tonal range . . . a majestic rendition of "O Come All Ye Faithful" . . . [Mack Wilberg's lush arrangement for "Away in the Manger"] displays Terfel at his most vocally delicate . . . splendid . . .

Terfel's bass-baritone is on commanding form here. He shines on "In the bleak midwinter" and "Away in a manger" . . .

Record Review /
Daily Mail (London) / 10. December 2010

Mack Wilberg's novel arrangements provide accompaniments with surprising and playful harmonic twists. There are charming carols from Austria and Argentina and, thanks to the wonders of digital trickery, Bryn and Bing Crosby join forces for a deliciously [duet of White Christmas] . . . Terfel's obvious sincerity and his terrific voice hold everything together, and make for a Christmas disc with that indefinable extra sprinkle of fairy dust which floats it out of the usual rut.

Record Review /
Warwick Thompson,
Metro / 10. December 2010

Bryn Terfel's assets as a singer are undeniable: a rich voice of warmth and power, an immaculate sense of diction and the ability to interpret popular material in a way that doesn't sound silly or condescending . . . within a few moments of hearing "Oh Come, All Ye Faithful", the opening track on "Carols and Christmas Songs", you start to sense that this is music Terfel knows and loves. With 15 favorites, plus a bonus disc of holiday material in Welsh, the recording gets the nod for our Album of the Week . . . some of the best selections on this album are simplest. "In the Bleak Midwinter", "Away in a Manger" and "What Child is This" showcase a big but unmannered operatic voice, carefully avoiding over-embellishment.